Violin



July 11, 1933. 5 H CHASE 1,918,084

VIOLIN Filed March 1, 1932 IN Vi 1V TOR Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES EMERY H. CHASE, OF ADDISON, NEW YORK VIOLIN Application filed. March 1,

This invention relates to an improvement in the structure and arrangement of parts in non-firetted double-stringed musical instruments of the violin families; including the viola,oello and kindred instruments, all

of which are hereinafter included by the term violin.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate discordant of pitch between the two tones forming each of the stopped and otherwise unisoned notes, upon the double strings ofthe instrument. And which discordance is caused by the common and erratic habit of the average play-er in his failure to place his finger tip squarely or sym metrically across or upon the two strings of a given pair. I

And addedto this condition is that of the naturally curved outline of the end of the finger in its projection across the second string of the pair. These two factors in combination thereby creating a longer vibratory span in one string than is produced in its duplicate string of the pair.

But this condition is peculiar to only the stopped or fingered notes of the instrument, whilst the notes of the open strings remain properly concordant or in unison; in this way creating not only the afore-mentioned discordance but also a heterogeneous condition between the diifeient notes of the scale, instead of the uniformity so essential to successful rendition. The correction of the double fault is herein provided by placing the vibrating portion or span of one string at a slight variance of position lengthwise the instrument from that of itsduplicate string of the same pair; 40 and in such interval of variation as to approximate the inequality or error of finger contact in stopping the two strings of such palr.

' Thus the alternatedor offset position in relation to'each other, of the notes upon the two strings of each pair as thus effected is to be accomplished by the use of a bridge and ofa nut having in its top surface recesses or notches to form ofl'set bearings for the strings as hereinafter described and illustrated.

strings; and 15 1932. Serial No. 596,061.

The terms nut and bridge as herein used, are understood as referring to the usual forms of such parts; but one or both of them may be composed of more than one part in forming the offset bearings for the strings; and in which case they are still claimed as within the scope of this invention.

VVith the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter become apparent 6 this invention comprises the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein set forth. claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In this drawmg, Fig. 1 represents a front view of the v1o l1n with the fingerboard (1) and the string section (2 to 3), relatively much enlarged. to enable better discernmentof details. The invention herein illustrated is, however, not to be limited to the exact size orproportion herein shown; but whilst its spirlt and purpose are maintain-ed, the di mensions are variable to meet practical requirements in use.

The numerals 456 7 of Fig. 1 indicate, each, a duplicate pair of the strings; and 89l011 show the variation in length of vibratory span of string caused bv curve of finger tip in stopping the two strings of each of the several pairs. 12 in Fig; 1 shows the nut as shaped in recessed and extended bearing points for the strings. the positions of said strings thereon be ng indicated by dotted lines crossing some. 12 in Fig. 2 is an end view of said nut. 13 in Fig. 1 represents the recessed or corrugated top corner of bridge on its side next the finger board. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged side view of a portion of neck or head of violin, with nut attached thereto. Fig. 3 i a schematic diagram of the offset relative position of the notes upon a single pair of duplicate strings. And Fig. 4 are cross sections of the bridge as slnnvn by corresponding numerals in Fig. L-as i l-1st is for half the 15 is for the other half. 16" in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 1', shows in dotted lines the possibility also of a recessed hiw side of the bridge and next to the tail piece; 1

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but the scopeof this invention is to include, either with, or without, this feature. 7

Having thus set forth and illustrated the nature o1 this invention what I claim and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is: r p

1.. A violin having pairs of duplicate strings, each pair tuned in unison, the vibrating portion of each string placed on aligned. mounting means at variance or position lengthwise he instrument from that of its duplicate string of the same pair for the purpose oi? clin'iinating the discordance of tone otherwise produced by unequal stopping of such pair of strings, said mounting means comprising a series of alternate re cesses and extensions on the violin nut and bridge members, the recesses on one member being aligned with extensions on the other member.

A violin iaving pairs of duplicate strings, each pair tuned in unison, the vibratory span of each string placed on aligned mounting means at variance of posioon lengthwise the instrument from that of its duplicate string, said aligned mounting means comprising a fingerboard nut composed of one or more parts, with its bearing surface for the strings shaped in alternately recessed and extended bearing points for the strings, and a bridge having alternately recessed andextended bearing points, the recessed bearing points of one member being aligned with the extended. bearing points of the 'other member, for the purpose of eliminating discordance of tone otherwise produced by unequal stopping of such pairs of strings. v

3. A violin having pairs of duplicate strings, each pair tuned in unison, the vibratory span of each string placed. on aligned mounting means at variance of position lengthwise the instrument from that of its duplicate string, said aligned mounting means comprisinga fingerboard nut com posed of one or more parts, with its bearing surface for the strings shaped in alternately recessedand extended ljiearing points for the strings, and a bridge composed of one or more parts, the top edge of which is shaped in notched or recessed form to provide alternately oilset alignedbearing points time upon for the strings, the recessed bearing points of one member being aligned with the extended bearing'points of the other member for the purpose of eliminating discontance of tone otherwise n'odiiiced by unequal stopping of such pair of strings. i

A violin having pairs of duplicate strings, each pair tuned in unison, the vibrating portion of each string placed on aligned mounting means at variance of position lengthwise the instrument from that of its duplicate string of the same pair, said aligned mounting means comprisinga iingerboa rd nut composed of one or more parts, with its bearing surface for the strings shaped in alternately recessed and extended bearing points for the strings, a bridge composed of one or more parts, the top edge of which is shaped in notched or recessed form to provide alternately oll'set bearings thereupon for the strings, and such recessed hearing points for the strings upon one supporting member being aligned with the extended bearing points of the other member providing a Sllllifttllltlilll) equal length oi vibratory span for the several open strings oi the instrument.

5. In a violin having a series of pairs of strings, a nut on said violin having a'series of alternate recesses and extensions, a bridge on said violin having a series of alternate extensions and recesses, each pair of strings being mounted across said nut and bridge, one string of each pair being mounted across the recess of said nut and an aligned e r-itension of said bridge, and the companion string of said pair being mounted across the ext ision of said nut and an aligned recess of said bridge. i V (5. In a violin having a series of pairs of strings, aligned means tormounting the pairs est strings of said violin with the vibratory portion of each string longitudinally displaced in relation to the vibratory portion of its companion string, said mounting means comprising a series of alternate/ recesses and extensions on the violin nut and bridge members, the recesses on one member being aligned with extensions on the other member. v

7. In a violin having a series of pairs of strings, aligned means formountingthe pairs oi? strings of said violin with the vibratory portion of each string longitudinally displaced in relation to the vibratory portion of its companion string a distance substantiallyeoual to the longitudinal displacement of the points of contact between a finger and each string of said pair, said mounting means comprising a series of alternate recesses and extensions on the violin nut and bridge members, the recesses on one member being aligned with extensions on the, other member.

8. n a violin having a series of pairs of strings, means for mounting the pairs of st ings of said violin with the vibratory portion of each string longitudinally displaced in relation to the vibratory portion of its companion string, said mounting means comprisinga nut and abridge member, said out having a series of alternately staggered reces. s and extensions on its top edge, and said bridge having a series of aligned alternately staggered extensions and recesses on its top edge, the recesses of each member being aligned with the extensions of the other member.

9. In a violin having a series of pairs of strings, means for mounting the pairs of strings of said violin with the vibratory portion of each string longitudinally displaced in relation to the vibratory portion of its companion string, said mounting means comprising a nut and a bridge, said nut having a series of alternately staggered recesses and extensions on its top edge, said bridge having a series of alternately staggered extensions and recesses 011 its top edge, each recess in said nut being aligned with an extension on said bridge and .each extension on said nut being aligned with any recess in said bridge whereby one string of each pair is mounted across a recess of the nut and an aligned extension of the bridge, and the companion string of each pair is mounted across the staggered extension of the nut and he aligned staggered recess of the bridge. 7

10. In a violin having a series of pairs of strings, means for mounting the pairs of strings of said violin with the vibratory portion of each string longitudinally displaced in relation to the vibratory portion of its companion string, said mounting means com prising a nut and a bridge, said nut having a series of alternately staggered recesses and extensions on its top edge, said bridge having a series ol alternately staggered extensions and recesses on its top edge, said bridge extension being aligned with said nut recesses and said bridge recesses being aligned with said nut extension whereby one string of each pair is mounted across a recess of the nut and an aligned extension of the bridge, and the companion string of each pair is mounted across the aligned staggered extension of the nut and the staggered recess of the bridge, the strings of each succeeding pair of strings laterally across the violin being laterally displaced from each other a greater lateral distance than the lateral distance of the pair of strings closer to the fingering side of the violin.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EMERY H. CHASE. 

